Clifton Board of Education edit meeting video before broadcast

By Terence P. Mc Ginley

STAFF WRITER |

Clifton Journal

CLIFTON — City residents watching the rebroadcast of the Jan. 6 Board of Education meeting via a local cable station on Jan. 11 for the first time, had no clue that a verbal dispute had taken place between a resident and the schools’ superintendent. The argument was edited out of the rebroadcast, leaving some residents who knew of the argument, wondering about the board’s transparency.

After two residents accused the Board of doctoring the replay at a Jan. 15 meeting, board Attorney Isabel Machado acknowledged the edit.

"If we were to air what we believe and what I perceived as defamatory statements on a video, this board could be held liable for airing libel," Machado said. "A legal decision was made to redact that [footage]."

The footage that was redacted included minutes from the Jan. 6 meeting where resident Keith Bassford, a vocal critic of the board and husband of Commissioner Judy Bassford, brought up a previous personal dispute he had with Superintendent of Schools Richard Tardalo. Bassford accused Tardalo of kicking him out of his office months prior and an argument between him and the superintendent ensued. The Board was called to a recess and Bassford was told to remove himself by Board President Gary Passenti before a watching member of the public engaged him in another shouting match.

Several residents said the entire episode was removed from the version aired on a local television station (Channel 77) the following Saturday.

Once the meeting recommenced Bassford was allowed to finish his allotted five minutes at the podium, but was not allowed to talk about the superintendent, because the topic was deemed "offensive" by Machado.

That portion of Mr. Bassford’s comments was aired after an awkward transition in the tape, said resident Patti Thompson, who spoke at the meeting.

Clifton Journal, via OPRA (Open Public Records Act) requested a copy of the tape, but as of deadline on Wednesday had not yet received it.

"It made me say ‘what the heck is going on here?’" Thompson said.

"Who ordered the edit, and why was it edited? If you are editing videos, how are you being transparent?"

After the most recent meeting Machado would only say that she "did not want to comment or clarify any further."

Tardalo has refused comment on the matter.

What remains in the wake of the controversy are the questions of how accurately the broadcast portrays meetings, as well as what topics can be brought up by the public.

"This is sort of the first I am hearing of this," said Commissioner James Daley at the Jan. 15 meeting. "I do have some overall concerns about it."

Daley said he intends to check with FCC regulations and would present a more detailed response at the next board meeting on Jan. 29.

The New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act, known also as the "Sunshine Law," does not require governmental bodies to broadcast meetings.

Mr. Bassford said his concern was with the district policy that requires anybody who has an issue with a BOE employee must proceed through the superintendent. Because his issue is with Tardalo, that process doesn’t make sense, Bassford said on Jan. 6.

The agenda that is read before public comments towards the end of every meeting states:

"The Board asks that members of the public be courteous and mindful of the rights of other individuals when speaking. Specifically, comments regarding students and employees of the Board are discouraged and will not be responded to by the Board."

"We’re all in a little bit of a gray area," said Vice President Arlene Agresti on whether mentioning board members at a meeting is prohibited.

"But if you have a complaint, there are certain channels you need to go through. You don’t do that at a meeting."

Calls and an email to Machado were not returned, nor were calls to the superintendent’s office.

Clifton Board of Education edit meeting video before broadcast

CLIFTON — City residents watching the rebroadcast of the Jan. 6 Board of Education meeting via a local cable station on Jan. 11 for the first time, had no clue that a verbal dispute had taken place between a resident and the schools’ superintendent. The argument was edited out of the rebroadcast, leaving some residents who knew of the argument, wondering about the board’s transparency.

After two residents accused the Board of doctoring the replay at a Jan. 15 meeting, board Attorney Isabel Machado acknowledged the edit.

"If we were to air what we believe and what I perceived as defamatory statements on a video, this board could be held liable for airing libel," Machado said. "A legal decision was made to redact that [footage]."

The footage that was redacted included minutes from the Jan. 6 meeting where resident Keith Bassford, a vocal critic of the board and husband of Commissioner Judy Bassford, brought up a previous personal dispute he had with Superintendent of Schools Richard Tardalo. Bassford accused Tardalo of kicking him out of his office months prior and an argument between him and the superintendent ensued. The Board was called to a recess and Bassford was told to remove himself by Board President Gary Passenti before a watching member of the public engaged him in another shouting match.

Several residents said the entire episode was removed from the version aired on a local television station (Channel 77) the following Saturday.

Once the meeting recommenced Bassford was allowed to finish his allotted five minutes at the podium, but was not allowed to talk about the superintendent, because the topic was deemed "offensive" by Machado.

That portion of Mr. Bassford’s comments was aired after an awkward transition in the tape, said resident Patti Thompson, who spoke at the meeting.

Clifton Journal, via OPRA (Open Public Records Act) requested a copy of the tape, but as of deadline on Wednesday had not yet received it.

"It made me say ‘what the heck is going on here?’" Thompson said.

"Who ordered the edit, and why was it edited? If you are editing videos, how are you being transparent?"

After the most recent meeting Machado would only say that she "did not want to comment or clarify any further."

Tardalo has refused comment on the matter.

What remains in the wake of the controversy are the questions of how accurately the broadcast portrays meetings, as well as what topics can be brought up by the public.

"This is sort of the first I am hearing of this," said Commissioner James Daley at the Jan. 15 meeting. "I do have some overall concerns about it."

Daley said he intends to check with FCC regulations and would present a more detailed response at the next board meeting on Jan. 29.

The New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act, known also as the "Sunshine Law," does not require governmental bodies to broadcast meetings.

Mr. Bassford said his concern was with the district policy that requires anybody who has an issue with a BOE employee must proceed through the superintendent. Because his issue is with Tardalo, that process doesn’t make sense, Bassford said on Jan. 6.

The agenda that is read before public comments towards the end of every meeting states:

"The Board asks that members of the public be courteous and mindful of the rights of other individuals when speaking. Specifically, comments regarding students and employees of the Board are discouraged and will not be responded to by the Board."

"We’re all in a little bit of a gray area," said Vice President Arlene Agresti on whether mentioning board members at a meeting is prohibited.

"But if you have a complaint, there are certain channels you need to go through. You don’t do that at a meeting."